Emma's words express emotion of that fateful night

EMMA-LOUISE Millhench and her poem

A 13-YEAR-OLD girl has written a "beautiful" and "moving" poem following the Manchester terror attack.

Hundreds of people have read and shared the poignant words composed by North Chadderton School pupil Emma-Louise Milhench.

The poem details how the news of Monday night's atrocity filtered through the city and turned a "normal night" into an "hysteric craze."

The family from Royton have been contacted by local historian and author Martin Gittins who hopes to print the piece in a book of poems about the attack.

Mum Joanne Milhench, who broke the news to her daughter after she woke on Tuesday morning, said: "This is Emma's way of processing what has happened.

"When she heard, she took herself off. After school on Tuesday she went straight upstairs and began typing on her laptop.

"I asked if she was okay and she told me she was writing a poem about Manchester.

"It was amazing and I wanted to share it. But I was also heartbroken. It really upset me - the fact that she is even having to think about these things."

Joanne added: "Emma loves writing so I was pleased she had an outlet and that she was able to express herself in this way."

The family have made several visits to the Manchester Arena, including attendance at two Little Mix concerts as Emma is a "big fan" so the venue is one Emma was familiar with.

Joanne decided to break the news of Monday's attack herself rather than letting her find out via social media or on her phone.

She said: "Emma is quite sensitive to these things. She thinks and worries about things so we kept the news to a minimum and had BBC Newsround on. When things like this happen you are bombarded with information."

Emma-Louise said: "After the terror attack I all of a sudden felt fear and upset but after a while that fear turned to anger and confusion.

"It just did not seem fair that the terrorist did not have to suffer the pain everybody else is going through. I am angry that he targeted families, children and young people who couldn't fight back.

"It broke my heart."


EMMA'S POEM

There was an attack in Manchester just other day, on the 22nd of May the reporters started to say.

Everything was great, I went to school, came home, had my tea, and went on my phone, got changed and went for fun, to sing, dance and smile at a concert with mum.

Nothing was expected, just a normal night up town, but then everybody's evening got flipped the wrong way round.

As the music began to fade and the lights began to rise.

The people heard noise that turned smiles to a hysteric craze!

"It was just a balloon" one girl from the crowd said,

but others cried "where's my little girl, don't tell me she's dead!"

Agonies and deaths, tears and cries, what happened to Manchester? We shouldn't have to hide.

Who is to blame for this horrid attack? Not one of us and we can't fight back.

It's not them who have to live with the heart breaking stories, having to rebuild their spirits, acting like normal.

Parents with children as little as 8, that left the Arena just a little too late,

Without their children by their sides, without holding their hands, seeing the spark in their eyes.

It wasn't their fault or the fault of the families, the families missing a wife, a child, a mummy or a friend, we've all had enough, when will it end?

But we can't be afraid, not of them, not at all.

When we stick together the city won't fall.

So come at us again and again if you must, but every time, we will rise from the dust.

The stronger you hit the stronger we will be, because Manchester makes you, Manchester makes me, Manchester is us, the city we are proud to be.

So here's to our doctors, fire brigade and coppers who fight.

Here's to the people who helped a friend in need that night.

Here's to the people like you and like me,

Here's to the people who taught us colours to see.

Here's to the people who make Manchester our home.

Dear people of Manchester we promise you are not alone!"